18 October 2006

The discussion about obedience and call continues - from "Discipleship" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

...the gracious call of Jesus Christ to discipleship becomes a strick law: Do this! Stop that! Come out of the boat to Jesus! Jesus says to anyone who uses their faith or lack of faith to excuse their acts of disobedience to his call: First obey, do the external works, let go of what binds you, give up what is separating you from God's will! Do not say, I do not have the faith for that. You will not have it so long as you remain disobedient, so long as you will not take the first step Do not say, I have faith so I do not have to take the first step. You do not have faith, because and so long as you will not take that first step.

Sounds like law doesn't it. To some that is the worst thing in the world. And yet, the call to come and follow Jesus does mean we follow...we go...we take that first step. I'm one who always defines repentance (turning around) as turning to that which call us. When we repent we "get on board the train that's a-coming." We hear and see the life within the Reign of God - the Good News - and we turn to grab hold and go with it. I have this view because in my history, repentance was simply a word of "Stop doing that!" In essence there was nothing beyond that - simply stop doing that or don't do that anymore. There was no Good News. Or...maybe, there was Good News but it was so under-played that I never heard it. Well, when I heard it, it had the power to pull and bring life. It is a power that shouts out, "Get on board...let's go!" Having said all of that, we do let go. We are called to stop clinging to that which demanded the attention and devotion of our lives. Could this be the obedience of faith!?!

Connection: The power that keeps us just as we are is quite powerful and it make tremendous sense - good old commoon sense, some would say. But in this day, we will be called to live within that Good News domain that may appear to be quite a bit of non-sense.

By your grace, O God, you take us by the hand and lead us into the life within your Reign. When we pull back and turn away from you to go our own way, do not forsake us. By the power of the Holy Spirit, touch our hearts so that we may see the brilliant light of your love and turn around to walk within it. Amen.